AP photo: The Sacramento Kings Rudy Gay (8) drives down the court defended by the Los Angeles Lakers Brandon Ingram (14) at the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Thursday night

by Jessica Kwong

Sacramento Kings dominated the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half, lost almost all their ground in the third quarter but managed to pull away in the fourth for a 116-104 win at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday night.

 As with the preseason opener in which the teams faced each other in Anaheim, the Kings took an early lead and the Lakers caught up. But unlike the Oct. 4 game, the Kings were able to fend off the Lakers’ second quarter push.

 DeMarcus Cousins and Ty Lawson had the night off.

 Sacramento led at the end of the first quarter, 30-26.

 The Kings widened their lead to 18 points at the half, and Darren Collison had 14 points.

 The Lakers rallied in the third quarter and the Kings gave up 36 points, reducing their lead to 82-80 at the end of the quarter.

 But in the fourth quarter, the Kings held the Lakers to 24 points to take the victory.

 Tolliver finished with 21 points, from making all three of his three-point attempts off the bench. Collison finished with 20 points on 8-of-13 from the field and 7 assists, while Rudy Gay finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

 Sacramento’s three-headed attack at the guard was effective on the Lakers.

Arron Afflalo contributed 16 points and former Laker Jordan Farmar had a solid night as well, posting 14 points off the bench.

 Kings guard Garrett Temple remains on the injured list with a sore back.

 With Thursday’s victory, Sacramento is 2-2 in the preseason. The young Lakers team holds a 2-3 record. The California teams do not face each other again in the preseason.

 Tip-off for the Kings’ game versus the Washington Wizards at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky is 4 p.m. on Saturday.